Maidstone United swept aside AFC Hornchurch this afternoon to move three points clear at the top of the Ryman Premier Division.
The Stones were made to work hard for the three points but goals from Steve Watt and the returning Frannie Collin from the bench were enough to seal the points. In fact it was Collin’s 50th goal since he joined the Stones.
All of Maidstone’s new signings started the game with Shane Huke starting at right back and Billy Bricknell alongside Nathan Elder in attack. This left fit again top scorer Frannie Collin having to make do with a place on the bench.
Hornchurch started the game brightly with George Purcell and Kieran Bishop shooting over from the edge of the area in the first few minutes. The first signs of Bricknell and Elder forming a partnership were beginning to become evident and Bricknell shot well wide after good link up play between the two of them.
After a frantic opening six minutes, more good link up play from the new look front two found Bricknell running beyond Elder’s flick on towards the left corner flag, Bricknell’s cross was met at the back post by Jack Parkinson, who headed just over.
The away side looked dangerous on the break, trying to benefit from Maidstone’s frailties at the back. George Purcell was unlucky to have a shot blocked from a Toby Joseph pull back from the right before the ball fell to Thomas Gogo whose right footed shot was deflected just wide.
With 15 minutes gone, the Stones were to really test the away goalkeeper for the first time. After a move between Bricknell and Bodkin broke down, the clearance made its way to Huke, who found Bricknell. He laid the ball off to Bodkin whose shot with the outside of his right foot stretched Sam Mott in goal to his fullest, clawing the ball behind with his fingertips.
George Purcell was a constant threat to the Stones back line and after 22 minutes he forced a fine save from Lee Worgan diving low to his left from the left hand corner of the penalty area.
Hornchurch came close to taking the lead on 28 minutes, Thomas Gogo’s floating free kick from the left was misjudged by Worgan in goal before crashing against the outside of the post and wide.
The Urchins were continuing to have more of the opportunities on the break, with Purcell firing wide after a spectacular run from just outside his own penalty area.
The Stones high defensive line was causing problems with the pacey front two of the visitors with Sonny Miles making a last ditch tackle as Kieran Bishop was about to slot home.
Despite the visitors being in the ascendancy, the Stones took the lead in the 36th minute. Ben Greenhalgh’s in swinging free kick was headed towards goal by Nathan Elder, Sam Mott only managed to parry the ball into the path of captain Steve Watt following up to tap in from close range to give the Stones a half time lead.
Maidstone were the first to threaten with the second half in its early stages, Bodkin’s right wing cross found Bricknell central to goal but he headed straight at the goalkeeper with a free header.
The threat from the visitors was still there, after 49 minutes, Parkinson was dispossessed in midfield by Gogo, and his through ball found Bishop in the outside right channel but his shot goal ward was blocked by Miles just outside the six yard box.
Hornchurch should have equalised ten minutes into the second half, Junior Luke’s header into the box was left by the home defence and Kieran Bishop found himself one on one ten yards out but he inexplicably skewed wide, to let the home side off for their lapse of concentration.
The Stones were riding their luck a little and Worgan was forced into another fine save low to his left by sub Danny Johnson with just over 20 minutes to play. The home side were struggling to find any rhythm to their attacking play, with the final ball lacking, which invited more and more pressure towards their own goal which the away side were failing to capitalise on.
Bricknell was to go close to sealing the game with ten minutes left to play but he was wrongly adjudged offside before firing wide after substitute Collin’s flick on.
Maidstone were defending stoutly and beginning to look threatening again as the game entered the last five minutes. Bodkin attempted to lob the onrushing keeper from Bricknell’s flick on, before Mott made a terrific save from Bricknell seconds later, diving to his left to keep the forward out from eight yards.
With the away side searching for an equaliser, Maidstone extended their lead with two minutes remaining, Bricknell broke clear down the left before cutting in, his shot was to hot to handle for Mott in the Hornchurch goal.
The returning Collin slotted in the rebound from six yards out, the points were finally safe for the home side as the home fans sang out that they were top of the league.
Maidstone United: Worgan, Huke, Mills, Watt ©, Miles, Rogers, Bodkin (Akrofi 88,) Parkinson, Elder (Collin 76) Bricknell, Greenhalgh (Brown 74)
Subs not used: Akrofi, Collin, Starkey, Godmon
Bookings: Parkinson 25, Mills 29
AFC Hornchurch: Mott, Bentley (Johnson 62), Bourne, Styles ©, Roast, Curley, Joseph (Smith 75), Gogo, Bishop, Purcell, Luke (Coyne 63)
Subs not used: Tuohy, May
Bookings: Curley 72
Referee: Mr G Read
Assistants: Mr G May and Mr A Jallow
Attendance: 2086